When friendship turns to something more . . .

Colton

I'd rather do anything than come back to Bent Creek, the town that took everything from me. But I can't ignore a text from my childhood best friend, Sam, asking for help.

Seeing Sam again is almost more than I can handle. I've harbored a crush on her since I was twelve, but it's not something I can act on. Not when she only sees me as a friend.

Besides, I have to focus on befriending her blackmailer. I can make him leave her alone if I can find something to use against him.

And Bent Creek comes with other problems too-like the Nobles. Keeping myself in check when I cross Wilder Noble isn't easy. Especially when it appears he knows the family secret I've kept from my brothers for years.

If there's one thing I'd never do, it's abandon the people I love when they need me the most. Even if that means keeping an impossible promise to my brothers. And even if it means pretending I'm not in love with Sam.

Samantha

I don't know what I was thinking, sending that text to Colt. I thought I could handle everything, but I'm in over my head at work. Colt was the only person I could think of who might be able to help.

Seeing him again is a shock. He's grown up from that gangly kid I used to hang out with, and it's hard to look away. I can't have those feelings for my best friend, not if I want to keep our friendship.

And yet spending more time with him is making my attraction to him impossible to ignore.

I know Colt would do anything to help me, but my blackmailer isn't giving up, despite Colt's efforts.

And it may be too late once we find out what he really wants from me.

Marybeth

I haven't talked to my brothers in months. Ever since I exposed their selfish intentions related to the old Harker ranch land to the entire town, I've been unofficially cut out of the Noble family.

But when both my shop and my brother's house is broken into, an already strained situation grows even harder to navigate.

With my business on the line and my brothers certain that my boyfriend's family is responsible for the break-ins, it feels as if the old tensions in Bent Creek are on the verge of exploding.